Religious cross structure



Patented Aug. 22, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to ornamental dual cross-structures used forecclesiastical display purposes and consists particularly in improvedmeans for connecting a pair of cross members either in superposedrelationship or with one member erected in upright position on the othermember.

One object of the invention is to provide a cross-structure comprising abase member in the shape of a Latin cross and a second similarlyshapedcross member adapted to overlie said base member in face-to-facerelationship or to stand vertically on the base member.

Another object is to provide improved means for slidably connecting thetwo cross members in contiguous superposed relationship with the uppermember forming a tightly-tting cover for a recess or concavity in thebase member which is adapted to serve as a receptacle for containingreligious articles used for worship and in administeringl the sacramentsof the church.

Another object is to provide means ior connecting the upper cross memberin superimposed relation to the base member with said connecting meansadapted for engagement by sliding one member on the other member to arelatively short extent to render the connecting means convenient forengagement and disengagement.

Further objects of the invention are set forth in the followingspecification which describes a preferred form of construction of thecross members and their connecting means, with one modication thereof,as illustrated by the accompanying drawing. In the drawing:

Fig. l is a top plan View showing the two cross members assembled inconnected relationship with one member superimposed on the other memberin face-to-face arrangement;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the same showing the two cross members inconnected relationship;

Fig. 3 is a side View of the base member shown with the upper memberdisconnected therefrom;

Fig. 4 is a side View of the upper cross member;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the base member showing a part of theconnecting means for the upper cross member more in detail;

Fig. 6 is an end view of the base member and a rearward View of theupper cross member shown as erected in upright position on the basemember;

Fig. 7 is a greatly .enlarged transverse sectional view on line 'l-l ofFig. 1 showing the connectn ing means between the upper member and basemember;

Fig. 8 is a perspective View of one element of said connecting means;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary top plan view of the base member showing thelower part of the upper cross member in transverse section andillustrating one form of means for holding the upper member in uprightposition on the base member;

Fig. 10 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary View showing the base mem-berand the lower part of the upper cross member which is erected in uprightposition thereon by means of the connecting or holding means;

Fig. 11 is a greatly enlarged transverse sectional view of the two crossmembers shown with the upper cross superimposed on the base member andillustrating the holding means for erecting the upper cross as disposedin an opening therein when said cross is recumbent on the base member;and

Fig. 12 is a detailed perspective view of said last-named holding meansfor erecting the upper cross on the base member.

Various types of composite or dual cross-structures have heretofore beendesigned for use by the laity and clergy for purposes of worship and inadministering the sacraments of the church; for example, as a sick-call,so-called. In these devices means are provided for attaching an uppercross in recumbent position on a base member of the same form, or forholding the upper cross in erect position on the base member, but mostof these prior holding devices have not been found entirelysatisfactorily in use. It is therefore one object of the presentinvention to provide improved means for connecting the upper cross withthe base member which is more convenient to operate and more secure forretaining the upper cross in place as a cover for the cavity in the basemember used as a receptacle for religious articles. One particularobject of the present invention is to provide improved Vconnecting meansthat may be slidably engaged by a relatively short extent of movement ofone member on the other member.

Referring to the present drawing, the base member 2 may be of theconventional shape o fa Latin cross comprising alongitudinally-extending body portion 3 with arms Il and 5 projectinglaterally therefrom. The ends of the body member 3 and arms and 5 of thebase cross may be shaped to an ornamental contour such as with thecurved points shown, or with any other artistic configuration.Preferably, the upper cross 6 is of more severe outline and formed withsquare ends as shown in Figs. 1 and 6.

As illustrated more particularly in Fig. the body 3 of the base member 2is formed with a longitudinally-extending concavity 8 for storingreligious articles such as a pair of candles, a receptacle for ointment,a vial for holy water .and other ecclesiatical accessories. The twoopposite arms 4 and 5 of the cross or base member 2 may be provided withcircular recesses 9 for holding candles inserted thereinto.

The upper cross `(i may conform generally' to the shape of the' base"member 2, .being usually oi thinner section and adapted to mount aligure of the Christ to serve as a crucix. T e improved means forsecuring the upper cross 6- in closely-abutting superimposed relation tothe base member 2 comprises a channel-shaped# el'ement l5, which ispreferably formed of metal with longitudinal runners on its sides. Theconnecting` element I5 may be constructed by bending or folding; a;strip of. sheet-metal intoV brought-shape. t0 1 ovide vertical sides l5with. relatively narrow .da Vges tlf-bent',outwardly wright-anglesthereto; element td' is quiten short compared to' the length: ci? thebody' of theV base member 221;. beingg fastened' tothe topi ofthe latterata pcintadjanentits cross amis 4f. by'mcansof oradsit.; screws". orthel like auch as: shown in Iiigs\..5- and 7.

The upper cross,- zr is formed.y en its rearward eiderwith airela-tively deep slot 2aextending longitudinally of its body portion:from aboutmidway between its: ends nearly to its upper terminal. Substanally one-3i l1- of theV slot 2G, that isits upper hal-f, is undercut to=provide overhanging strips or shouldered ribs 2!A which overhang thesic'es` ci they slot.. The slot 2% withy its ribs- Zvi fori 1- one partof the connecting: meansior` hold:- ing the upper cross in recurnbentpsition 0n the besenrember il,` the lower straight-sided portieni-*12 ofthetA slot being ofa wi-:ithlto receive the flanged connecting memberwhereafter the upper cross is slid. longitudinally of the body 3 of thebase`- member Zv to engage the nanges i'l witl theV strips or ribs 2l'projecting from the sides of the upper. portion of the` slot. In thismay the upper cro-ss 6. may be fastened inY flat sur imposed position onthebase member 2 by only ofsleoi'tsliding movement-of the upper cross,thereby providing. for easyy and convenient connrctiop between the crossmembers, Figs. 1, 2 fue ri "I V As shown ,i1-Figs andI 5, the basemember be provided. with a pin adiacent the the holding 0r connectingelem .it i5V for rioting the upper cross` in upright posie-upper oftheta-.sc member-2. The is.4 adaptedY to engage inA a drilled hole i inthe bottom of theupper cross er as indicatedV by. dotted'. linesin Fig.v6. The pin ..5 has @further function to: provide a stop or detent en-;Taceablowit-h:theiend'of the'upper portion of the slet Bof in theuppercross 6 to limit its sliding movement on the base member 2- whereby tolocate the upper cross in symmetrical relation to the. base member;lthat is, wi r the crossV arms off the twoV members in substantialalinement. When assembled in, this relationship the uppercrossfprovid'es'a close-zitting cover for the cavity 84 ini the besefmember 2 toy retain the articles stored. therein from being misplaced orlost.

Figs;.9to; l2 show a` modiiiedform of constructioni or"- the means forholding the upper cross 6 in: erect position' onI the base-member, 2:.For this purpose I provideta connecting, elementifiyshown shown inperspective, view in Fig. 8,.

in perspective view in Fig. l2, having a head 29 with a shank 3Q whichmay be driven into the wood or other material o the base ymember 2.rl`he head 2S has its wider portion at the top and is undercut at thesides with notches 3l Preferably, the head 29 is of slightly arcuateshape in edge View or of concave-convex form on its opposite faces, thisformation of the head having certain advantages as later explained.

Referring to Fig. lh, when the upper cross 6 is superimposedt on the"base member 2 the head or" the element 28 is entered into thestraightsided portion of the slot 23 in the upper cross 6 andi causedtofbe displaced therealong as the upcross is slid on the base member 2to engage the flanges r1' 0f the holding element i5 with the lateralstrips or ribs 2i at the sides o the upper portion of the slot Theelement 28 thus has the same function as the pin 25, that is to providea stop for limiting the sliding movement the upper cross. 5 to. properlypositionA it in symmetrical!! relation tol the'. base member Witlr thislatter formi of construction or" the holding or attaching element Etfthe` upper cross be formed with a= re-ent'rant opening or slotat-itsrl'ower' end,. see Figs; 9 andv l0, the narrower side grooves ofwhich are adapted to engage with the head 29 of the element 28. It willnow be seen that the arcuate or bowed shape of the head Z13-provides forthe frictionol @nag/nient thereof withv the grooves in the slot 32' toprovidearmrigid connection between the base member 2: and' theupoer'cross' S when the latter is erected' in upright position on the basemember; Through this form of construction the upper cross' i's heldfirmly and' preventedv from turning, or rotating on its axis as is thecase when' thepin 254 is employed. the n ans for connecting the uppercros in erect r sltion onv the base member 2'. In some cases thenarrower' portion 3 of the slot may be employed for engagement with apin 35 at the lower' end or the base member 2, see Fig. Si to reinforcethe connection of the upper cross with the base member. when the formeris .in recom-- bent position thereon.. This engagement between the pin35 and the narrow portion thus prevents any lateral movement. at. thelower endof the upper4 cross. when itl is in recumbent position on thebase. member 2.

lt will be` observed from the foregoing description that the presentimprovedA means for connecting the upper cross in recumbent position orin erect relation on the base member 2 provides for especial.convenience in applying the two members in their diierent relationships.That is to say, theupper cross 6 may be placed in overlying relation tothe base member 2 and slid therealong. for engaging the holding means bya relatively short movement of one member with respect to the4 othermember; and the connectingmeansmay be as easily released to adapt theupper cross 5 to be erected in upright position on the base member 2 byengagingl either the pin 25-` with the hole` 2.6. inthe bottom of theupper cross, or by engagingv the improved attaching clement 28l with theslot 32 in the upper cross 5, whicheverA construction. is employed.

While the invention is herein described and illustrated in two preferredforms of construction, it is to be understood thatl modications may bemade in the shape andA arrangement of the parts of. thefastening. meanswithout-departing from the spirit or scope of the appended claims.Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. A composite cross-structure comprising a base member provided with arelatively short connecting element formed with laterally-projectinganges on its sides, said connecting element being of a length only asmall fractional part of the length of the base member, and an uppercross formed with a slot extending longitudinally thereof with astraight-sided portion extending from one end and adapted to receive theconnecting element therein and a continuing portion having ribs on itssides for engaging under the flanges on the connecting element when theupper cross is slid longitudinally of the base member.

2. A composite cross-structure comprising a base member of conventionalform, a relatively short sheet-metal connecting element of channelshapeprovided with laterally-projecting flanges extending longitudinally ofits sides, and an upper cross having a longitudinally-extending slot inits rearward face wide enough in one end portion to receive theconnecting element and provided with overhanging ribs extendingthroughout only a portion of its length in its opposite end portion andadapted to engage under the flanges on the sides of the connectingelement when the upper cross is slid on the base member whereby to holdthe upper member in connection therewith.

3. A composite cross-structure comprising a base member, a relativelyshort connecting element fastened to the top of the base mamber andformed with laterally-projecting flanges on its sides, an upper crosshaving a slot extending longitudinally thereof and shaped with arelatively wide portion at one end for receiving the flanged sides ofthe connecting member with projecting ribs on its sides extendingthroughout the remaining portion of its length and adapted to underliethe anges on the connecting element when the upper cross is slid on thebase member, and means at the end of the connecting element engageablewith the bottom of the upper cross to hold it in erect position on thebase member.

4. A cross-structure comprising a base member in the form of a cross, anupper cross conforming in shape to that of the base member, means forconnecting the upper cross in superimposed close-fitting relation to thebase member, said upper cross formed with a re-entrant slot at its lowerend, and a connecting element for holding said upper cross in erectposition on the base member, said connecting element having a head ofconcavo-convex form in edge View to adapt it to frictionally engage theslot in the bottom of the upper cross with a binding action.

5. An ecclesiastical display device comprising two members ofsubstantially corresponding cross-shape, and means for connecting saidcross members in superposed relationship comprising an element on onemember having laterallyprojecting flanges extending longitudinally ofits sides, and a longitudinally-extending slot in the other member wideenough in one end portion to receive the connecting element on thefirstnamed member and formed with overhanging ribs extending throughoutonly a portion of its length adjacent its opposite end to adapt them toengage under the ilanges on the sides of the connecting element when thelatter is entered into the wider portion of the slot and said slottedmember slid longitudinally of the other member.

RAYMOND F. BRENNAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,355,154 Goudreau Aug. 8, 19442,358,558 Brennan Sept. 19, 1944

